Detonating system

ABSTRACT

A detonating system for providing an emergency escape exit in an aircraft fuselage or the like, in which a liquid shaped charge tubing is secured in a predetermined manner to a wall for providing a potential escape port therein. The system includes a mixing pump with plural liquid explosive component chambers and a piston responsive to an initiator for expelling a predetermined mixture of the liquid explosive through a nozzle to fill the tubing. A hammer closes the filled tubing when actuated by a 2second time delay initiator prior to being detonated by a 3second time delay initiator located in a bypass conduit that interconnects the actuating initiator with the tubing.

United States Patent App]. No, 878,122 Filed Nov. 19, 1969 Patented Aug.31, 1971 Assignee The United States of Amu-ica as represented by theSecretary of the Army DETONATING SYSTEM 5 Cla'ims,4 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 102/1, 86/20 C, 102/24 HC, 102/57 Int. Cl F42b 1/02 Field ofSearch l02/l 57, 24 HQ 49.5; 86/203; 244/1 References Cited UNlT EDSTATES PATENTS 2,866,4 l 4 12/1958 Smith 102/57 X Inventors Raymond C.Sutter;

Jouph M. Di Phlllipo, both 01 Philadelphia,

Primary ExaminerSamuel W. Engle Attorneys- Harry M. Saragovitz, EdwardJ. Kelly, Herbert Berl and S. Dubroff ABSTRACT: A detonating system forproviding an emergency escape exit in an aircraft fuselage or the like,in which a liquid shaped charge tubing is secured in a predeterminedmanner to a wall for providing a potential escape port therein. Thesystem includes a mixing pump with plural liquid explosive componentchambers and a piston responsive to an initiator for expelling apredetermined mixture of the liquid explosive through a nozzle tofillthe tubing. A hammer closes the filled tubing when actuated by a2-second time delay initiator prior to being detonated by a 3-secondtime delay initiator located in a bypass conduit that interconnects theactuating initiator with the tubing.

PATENIEI] AUG31 |97| 3,602,141

7 sum 1 [IF 2 INVENTORS RAYMOND C. SUTTER JOSEPH M. D IPHII LIPO Wlf- QF-T iw 39M ATTORNEYS;

DETONATING SYSTEM The invention described herein may be manufactured,used, and licensed by or for the Government for governmental purposeswithout the payment to us of any royalty thereon.

The invention relates to a detonation system and, more particularly, toa detonating system for providing an emergency escape exit in anoccupant confining wall such as an aircraft fuselage.

Present emergency exit from passenger aircraft is accomplished by theuse of doors which are to be unlocked and opened by passengers in eventof an on-the-ground emergency where quick exit from the aircraft isdesired. However, there is the possibility that the emergency exit doorswould become jammed or damaged during a hard landing, thereby preventinga quick exit opening or perhaps making the door opening impossible.

It is an object of the invention to provide a detonation system whichwould explosively cut and remove an emergency escape hatch in theaircraft fuselage.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a detonation systemwhich is reliable and safe before and during operation. a

These and other objects, features and advantages will become apparentfrom the following description and accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. I is substantially a schematic view of a preferred detonationsystem embodying the principles of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the mixing pump assembly used in the FIG.1 arrangement.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the detonator housing assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the FIG. 1 tube closer assembly.

Secured to an aircraft fuselage (FIG. 1) or other wall structure inwhich it is desired that an emergency escape exit be quickly provided,as by appropriate mounting brackets 11 is a predetermined shaped andlength of linear aluminum tubing 12 that when filled with a liquidexplosive and thereafter detonated will rupture or blow out arectangular section of the wall 10. The wall section to be explosivelycut and removed is defined by the substantially rectangularconfiguration of the tubing 12 extending between its adjacentlypositioned 90 bends shown at 13 and 14. The rearward end 15 of thetubing 12 is suitably connected to the outlet port 17 (FIG. 2) of themixing pump unit or assembly 18, and the shaped tubing forward end 19 isconnected by an appropriate fitting 20 to the detonator housing unit orassembly 21 (FIG. 3).

The tubing rearward end 15 freely passes through diametrically opposedopenings 23, 24 (FIG. 4) of a cylindrical wall housing the hammer 27 andits shear pin 25A of tube closer unit assembly 26 whose gas inlet port27 is fluid communication via conduit 28 (FIG. 1) with a 2-second delayinitiator 29. Conduit 30 places a 3-second delay initiator 31 in fluidcommunication with the firing pin 32 (FIG. 3) that, upon breaking ofshear pin 33, strikes detonator 34 to detonate the tubing 12 after it isfilled with liquid explosive linear-shaped charge and sealinglyflattened or closed by hammer 25.

The mixing pump assembly cap 35 has a lateral gas port 36 which istapped or threaded for fluid connection via T-shaped conduit means 37,38, 39 with the corresponding delay initiators 29, 31.

Mixing pump cap 35 has a tapped central port 40 (FIG. 2) by which theactuating initiator 41 (FIG. 1) is secured to the pump. unit '18rearwardly adjacent the cap central recess 42 that has stepped flanges43, 44 for seating a centrally apertured orifice plate 45 and a recessheaded piston 46. Piston 46 is secured initially by shear pin 47 to aring 49 that is fixed to pump housing 48 when the cap 35 is threadedlysecured thereto. Suitable O-rings 50, 51 seal or prevent leakage pastthe plate 45 and piston housing 48 when the cap 35 is secured.

A liquid containing annular chamber 52 filled with nitromethanesurrounds the piston rod 53 which is movable forwardly in achamber 54filled with a sensitizer liquid. When the piston 46 is moved by the gasdeveloped by initiator 41, it

forces the liquid components to break their seals or blowout discs 55,56 and enter the mixing chamber 57 from whence the mixed liquidexplosive is delivered to fill the tubing 12. Vent tube 58 (FIG. 3) onthe detonator housing assembly 21 enables the elimination of airentrapment or bubbles that could interrupt propagation of the fluidexplosive.

Upon actuation of the pump initiator 41 by pulling a lanyard (notshown), the mixing pump 18 will automatically mix the nitromethane andsensitizer explosive components (at about a 94:6 volume ratio) and pumpthe mixed liquid explosive to fill the tubing 12. Pressure gas in themixing pump will concurrently actuate both the 2-second delay tubecloser initiator 29 and the 3-second delay detonator initiator 31, bywhich the mixing pump, after functioning to purge air from the system,is

. disconnected from the detonating system immediately before theexplosive detonator 34 is fired to propagate a high order detonation inthe liquid explosive contained in or filling the shaped tubing 12.

We wish it to be understood that we do not desire to be limited to theexact details of construction shown and described, for obviousmodifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

We claim:

1. In a system for filling and detonating a shaped charge tubing as anexplosive line,

means including a mixing pump in fluid communication with said tubingand having a plurality of chambers each containing a component of aliquid explosive and a liquid compressing piston for deliveringpredetermined amount of said liquid explosive components tosubstantially fill said tubing with mixed liquid explosive,

a first initiator for actuating said piston, and

a delay initiator responsive to said first initiator and positioned in abypass conduit for detonating the liquid explosive charge filling saidtubing.

2. The structure in accordance with claim 1 wherein a detonator assemblyinterconnects said tubing sand said bypass conduit.

3. The structure of claim 2 in which said detonator assembly includes avent tube for exhausting air that may otherwise be trapped in saidtubing.

4. The structure of claim 1 wherein a tube closer unit surrounds aportion of said tubing adjacent said nozzle and has a hammer adapted toclose said tubing after it has been filled with liquid explosive, and asecond delay initiator responsive to said first initiator for actuatingsaid hammer, said second delay initiator being sequentially operativeprior to said detonating delay initiator.

5. The structure of claim 4 wherein blowout discs are positionedforwardly of the corresponding liquid explosive component chambers, anda mixing nozzle is positioned intermediate said blowout discs and tubecloser unit.

1. In a system for filling and detonating a shaped charge tubing as an explosive line, means including a mixing pump in fluid communication with said tubing and having a plurality of chambers each containing a component of a liquid explosive and a liquid compressing piston for delivering predetermined amount of said liquid explosive components to substantially fill said tubing with mixed liquid explosive, a first initiator for actuating said piston, and a delay initiator responsive to said first initiator and positioned in a bypass conduit for detonating the liquid explosive charge filling said tubing.
 2. The structure in accordance with claim 1 wherein a detonator assembly interconnects said tubing sand said bypass conduit.
 3. The structure of claim 2 in which said detonator assembly includes a vent tube for exhausting air that may otherwise be trapped in said tubing.
 4. The structure of claim 1 wherein a tube closer unit surrounds a portion of said tubing adjacent said nozzle and has a hammer adapted to close said tubing after it has been filled with liquid explosive, and a second delay initiator responsive to said first initiator for actuating said hammer, said second delay initiator being sequentially operative prior to said detonating delay initiator.
 5. The structure of claim 4 wherein blowout discs are positioned forwardly of the corresponding liquid explosive component chambers, and a mixing nozzle is positioned intermediate said blowout discs and tube closer unit. 